Governor for electric generators



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. J. TRACY. GOVERNOR FOR ELECTRIC GENERATORS.

No. 412,567. Patentedbot. 8, 1889.

WMMQO SWWMW (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

P. J. TRACY.

GOVERNOR FOR ELECTRIC GENERATORS.

No. 412,567. Patented Oct. 8, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK J. TRACY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN.

GOVERNOR FOR ELECTRIC GENERATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 412,567, dated October 8, 1889.

Application filed November 9, 1885. Serial No. 182,231. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. TRACY, of Racine, in the county of Racine, and in the State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGovernors for Electric Generators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to governors for regulating the pressure of an electric current or the production of such current, and is applicable to any electric device to which such a governor is or may be necessary in order to give an absolute steady uniform current, as will be hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus showing the application of my invention to electric lighting; Fig. 2, a diagram illustrating the operation of the same, and Fig. 3 an end elevation of the same; Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, details. Fig. 8 is a view showing my invention as applied for regulating the current from a dynamo.

A represents a suitable base, to which is secured a vertical standard 13, having pivotally connected by adj usting-screws b to its upper end 'a beam 0, this pivotal connection being shown in detail in Fig. 4. One end of the beam C is provided with a preferably detachably-connected segment a, and has at its other end" an adjustable weight D. This latter end of the beam maybe provided with a series of graduations, as illustrated by Fig. 1, so that the weight may be readily adjusted to increase or decrease the tension. The throw of the beam is regulated by a plate E, secured to the top of the standard B and provided at each of its ends with an adjusting-screw e, adapted to come in contact with said beam as it comes up on either side of the standard. Adjustably secured to the beam 0, between the vertical standard B and the segment a, is the piston-rod F of an air-chamber G, said air-cham her being provided with a faucet c, to regulate the discharge of air as the same is forced out by the descent of the piston. The beam 0 is also provided with a stop d, designed to engage a spring-arm e, secured to a bracket H on the vertical standard 13, said spring-arm being attracted and drawn out of engagement with the stop (Z 011 the beam by means of the magnet I of a local or auxiliary battery, as

having its other end detachably united to the armature-post L of a main electro-magnet M by means of an insulated clamp 7L. Secured to the segment a at one end of the beam 0 is a strap 1', which strap is also secured to the element k of a battery-cell N. This strap is preferably composed of two sections united by a turn-buckle connection i, so that said strap may be lengthened or shortened as occasion may require. The central core of the main magnet M consists of a tube of soft iron 'm, wound with insulated copper wire and incased in a shell m also composed of soft iron, having a centrally-perforated head for the central core. The armature O of the main magnet in this instance consists of an outer case 0 and two inner magnetic rims o 0 of different lengths, the outer one o of these rims being of such diameter as to overlap the magnet, while the inner one 0 or armature proper, is equal to the centrally-perforated head of said magnet, a cushion or washer m being usually interposed between the lastnamed parts to prevent sticking. Though I have shown the armature O as composed of an outer casing and two inner soft-iron rims of difierent lengths, agreater number of these rims may be employed, if found desirable. The armaturerod L consists of a soft-iron section Z, extended a suitable distance down into another section Z composed, preferably, of brass. To the beam 0 and base A are connected the ends of a variable-tension spring P, the strain of this spring being inversely to the power of the weight D at one end of said beam.

The magnet is wired to the positive and negative wires of a parallel circuit, as best illustrated by the diagram Fig. 2, and a lamp M or other electric device is arranged in the magnet-loop, while by means of a switch W. said parallel or main circuit is made and broken. As shown in Fig. 2, the switch is closed and the circuit established throughout the length of the wires, whereby the magnet and lamps or other electric devices in said circuit are energized by the current. When the circuit is established throughout the length of the wires and all the said electric devices are in operation, the beam will be I position with relation to the main magnet M as to have the lower end of the soft-iron section of said rod in the field of attraction, as best illustrated in Fig. 1. Now, if one or more of the lamps or other electric devices beyond the magnet be cut out, a portion of t'hesurplus energy, generated by the battery will manifest itself in the magnet and cause the soft-iron section of the armature-rod to be attracted until it enters the core of said magnet, when the attraction upon said armature-rod ceases and the outer soft-iron rim of the armature is in said field of attraction. The outer soft-iron rim of the armature being attracted the relative distance of the softiron section in the armature-rod, the attraction on said rim ceases, and the inner rim is in the field of attraction, the distance between the various parts above named being relatively proportioned with relation to the number of electric devices in circuit to accomplish this result, whereby the beam 0 is actuated to lift the battery-element more and more out of the solution, in proportion as the electric devices beyond the magnet-loop are cut out, thus automatically regulating the production of the electric current. If at any time the switch on be opened, all the electric devices beyond the device M will be cut out, and hence all the surplus energy generated by the battery will manifest itself in the magnet, and the armature will be further attracted, to thereby actuate the beam 0 to lift the battery-element 7.; far enough out of the solution to automatically stop the generation of more electric current than is necessary to energize the devices in the magnet-loop, so that said armature is held down to the position to which it has been attracted. Now, if

the local magnet R be energized, the beam 0 will be attracted thereby to elevate the element entirely out of the solution, and when this operation takes place the local magnetI is cut out to permit the spring-latch e to engage the lug d on said beam, and thus mechanically retain the battery-element in its raised position in case the magnet R is cut out. The'inner rim of the armature being in the field of attraction, said armature is raised or lowered as the pressure of the current increases or diminishes, and the variation of attraction is regulated by the weight D and variable-tension spring P, the power of one being inverse to the Otherthat is to say, as the armature is attracted the weight is drawn down and the spring stiff ens, and as the attraction is decreased the spring relaxes and the Weight rises. The piston and air-chamber connectionwith the beam is designed to moderate the descent of the element It in its solution, the velocity being regulated by the faucet c at bottom of air-chamber, said faucet being opened to a greater or less extent, as may be required. By this means of moderating the descent of the element the momentum of the beam is overcome and the current prevented from fluctuating by the unsteady movement of the armature and the element in the solution, which movement would otherwise take place. To release the beam and throw the various parts into operative position, a push-button s is depressed, so as to cause the local or auxiliary magnet I to attract the spring arm e and disengage it from'thestop d on said beam.

This push-button may be located at apoint any desired distance from thegovernor.

As shown by Fig. 5, the local or auxiliary bat= tery may be automatically connected to or disconnected from the main battery. As" the current in the main battery becomes weakened by the decomposition of the element is,

the beam 0 is so lowered as to have its segment end a force a sprin'gcontact-point t on said main battery against a similar point a on the local or auxiliary battery. These contact-points are so constructed as to automatically lock together when actuated by the se ment end of the beam, and should the current become so intensified as to overcome the resistance of the lights, or should a light or lights be cut out, and thus a surplus energy be created in the main battery, the local bat-- tery will be cut off as the beam is raised by the action of the main magnet, as above described. This cutting oif of the local or auxiliary battery from the main one is effected by a chain or other flexible connection 41 being attached to thebeam and the spring contact-point t, and as said beam rises toward a level power is exerted to draw the contactpoints asunder;

Though. I have described but a single battery-cell, an indefinite number may be controlled. by my improved governor. Fig, 3 shows a connection with the elements of three battery-cells by means of a horizon tal arm carrying a corresponding number of segments being securedto the beam 0, and in Fig. 6 I show a series of segments con nected to a weighted crank-shaft operated by suitable connections withsaid beam 0. Also, the governor may be located at a distance from the battery or batteries 'as, for instance, a battery or batteries may be in a cellar or lower story of a building and the governor in an upper story, this being accomplished by having strap iof suincient length. WVhen my governor is used for regulating the current from a dynamo, I extend the central openings in the magnet M through its support Z and make post L long enough to pass through and project below the support, providing it with a rack L, for engagement with a pinion Z ICC the shaft Z of which has bearings in suitable brackets or standards, (the latter not shown,) and this pinion has an arm Z the outer end of which is in position to make contact with a series of strips 1, that are wired to a resistance L the construction and connections being such that when the armature is drawn down by the magnet an increased amount of resistance is thrown into circuit by the shifting of the arm Z The beam 0 in this instance is counterbalanced by an adjustable Weight D and spring P, or either.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with an electric generator, of an electro-magnet and other electrically-actuated devices arranged in parallel circuit, a balanced beam connected at one end to the generator, and an armature sus pended from the other end of the beam to come in the attractive field of the electromagnet, and be attracted in proportion as surplus energy manifests itself in said magnet, whereby the generation of the electric current is automatically regulated in case any one or all of said electrically-actuated devices beyond the magnet-loop are cut out of circuit, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electric governor, a pivoted beam mechanism actuated by an electric current to automatically regulate said current or its production, in combination with a spring-latch for retaining the beam in -position to discontinue said current, and an electro-magnet arranged to disengage said latch and beam, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electric governor, a pivoted beam connected to an electric generator, a magnet electrically connected to said generator, an armature suspended from the beam to come in the attractive field of the magnet, aweight arranged on the beam, and a tension-spring connected to said beam to have its power in verse to that of the weight, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electric governor, a pivoted beam mechanism connected to an electric generator, a magnet electrically connected to said generator, an armature suspended from the beam to come in the attractive field of the magnet, and an auxiliary electro-magnet arranged to attract the beam, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electric governor, a pivoted beam connected to an electric generator, a magnet electrically connected to said generator, and an armature suspended from the beam to come in the attractive field of the magnet, in combination with an adjustable regulator for said beam, a spring-latch for retaining the beam in position to discontinue the current, an electro-magnet arranged to attract said latch, an air-chamber, and a piston arranged within the air-chamber and having a rod connection with the beam, substantially as set forth.

6. In an electric governor, a pivoted beam provided with a stud, a segment-arm adjustably secured to the stud, an armature con nected to the segment, and an electro-magnet arranged to attract the armature, substantially as set forth.

7. In an electric governor, the combination of an electrically-controlled and pivoted beam, a main battery, an auxiliary battery, opposing spring contact-points connected to the batteries, and a flexible connection uniting the beam with one of said contact-points,the latter being arranged in the path of the adjacent end of said beam, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with an electric generator and parallel circuit, of an electro-magnet in the circuit, a vertical standard, a beam pivotally secured thereto and connected to the generator, an armature suspended from the beam to come in the attractive field of the electro-magnet, a weight arranged on the beam, and a tension-spring connected to said beam to have its power inverseto that of the weight, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, in the presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK J. TRACY. Witnesses:

S. S. STOUT, C. W. DIKEMAN. 

